Faculty
Kent D. Choquette
Sony Faculty Scholar (2004-2007)
Professor
3108 Micro and Nanotechnology Lab
208 N. Wright Street
Urbana, Illinois 61801
(217) 265-0563
Ph.D. in Materials Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990
Research Statement:
The Photonic device research group is involved in the study of semiconductor photonic and optoelectronic device physics, fabrication technologies, and systems with a strong emphasis on vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs). Photonic devices are key components for the infrastructure of the Information Age. Active devices, such as VCSELs, are the foundation for short and soon medium length optical fiber based interconnect applications. Currently there are research efforts to develop new VCSEL devices, such as composite resonator VCSELs and vertical cavity photonic integrated circuits, as well as to establish new VCSEL applications, such as 2-dimensional source and receiver arrays for high aggregate rate interconnects. Group research into new compound semiconductor processing technologies, such as selective oxidation and heterogeneous integration techniques is also pursued. Finally, the next generation of photonic devices, such as photonic crystal membrane lasers, waveguides and nanocavities, which will enable the next generation of quantum optic communication networks, as well as opto-fluidic microsystems for lab-on-the-chip sensing and health care are under under study.
Teaching Statement:
The among the reasons that I joined the University of Illinois, after spending 10 years at an industrial and national laboratory, is the opportunity to teach the next generation of scientists and engineers, and the personal challenge and freedom to learn new areas of science and technology. I teach undergraduate courses covering the physics and fabrication of solid state devices and graduate courses covering quantum optoelectronics and microcavity lasers.
Research Interests:
- vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), micro/nano-cavity lasers, optoelectronic devices, selective oxidation of compound semiconductors, hybrid heterogenous integration, nano-processing fabrication, photonic crystal materials, Si-based optoelectronics, high bandwidth communication systems
Undergraduate Research Opportunities:
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For more information:
Photonic Device Research Group Home Page
Academic Positions
- Professor, University of Illinois, August 2000 to present
Other Professional Employment
- Principal Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque NM, January 1994 to July 2000
- Postdoctoral Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, September 1992 to December 1993
- Postdoctoral Member of Technical Staff, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill NJ, July 1990 to August 1992
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Teaching
- Incomplete list of faculty rated "excellent" by students (2008)
- Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising (2005)
- Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising (2004)
Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Research
- IEEE Laser and Electro-Optics Society Engineering Achievement Award (2008)
- Fellow of Internatinal Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) (2008)
- Elected member of the Board of Govenors, IEEE Lasers and Electro Optics Society (2006-2008)
- ECE Sony Faculty Scholar (2006-2007)
- ECE Sony Faculty Scholar (2005-2006)
- ECE Sony Faculty Scholar (2004-2005)
- Fellow of Optical Society of America (2004)
- Fellow of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) (2003)
- IEEE Laser and Electro-Optics Society Distinguished Lecture Award (2001-2002)
- IEEE Laser and Electro-Optics Society Distinguished Lecture Award (2000-2001)
Journal Editorships
- Associate Editor, Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2009-present
- Associate Editor of IEEE Photonic Technology Letters, 2004-2005
- Associate Editor, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1998-2004
Professional Societies
- IEEE/LEOS, Elected Member Board of Governors, 2005-2008